ABSTRACT Introduction: Bacteremia is a frequent complication in children with cancer, which is associated with greater severity, prolonged hospitalization and mortality. Prolonged hospitalization conditions greater morbidity and risk of acquisition of intranosocomial infections. Aim: To describe risk factors for prolonged hospital length of stay in children with leukemia and bacteremia. Methods: Cohort study. Episodes of bacteremia in patients with leukemia at Garrahan Hospital from 1/1/2015 to 31/12/2016 were reviewed. We compared data from patients with a LOS of 14 days or more with those admitted for less than 14 days. Bivariate and logistic regression analysis was performed. We used Stata 13 statistical package. Results: n = 121. Median age 59 months.81 patients (67%) had a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, followed by acute myeloid leukemia in 40 (33%). 96 patients (79%) had a central venous catheter (CVC), 94 patients (78%) were neutropenic. Blood cultures were positive for Enterobacteriaceae in 55 cases (45%), coagulase-negative staphylococci in 28 cases (23%), Group viridans Streptococcus in 19 (16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 8 (7%). (9%). By the multivariate analysis, three factors remained significantly associated with length of stay of more than 14 days: CVC associated bacteremia (OR 21,73; CI95% 1.2-43.2; p 0.04), severe neutropenia (OR 1.75; CI95% 1.82-1.28; p 0.03) and coinfection (OR 27.4; CI95% 2.8-260.8; p 0.004). Conclusion: CVC associated bacteremia, severe neutropenia and viral coinfection were associated with hospital LOS of more than 14 days.

The Brown smooth-hound Mustelus henlei is part of an important commercial fishery on the western coast of Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico. However, very few studies have been performed on the feeding and reproduction biology of these sharks in Mexico. Our study is the first work focusing on this species on the western shelf (14 m to 250 m in depth) of B.C.S. We identified a total of 24 types of prey contents in the stomachs of M. henlei: 15 crustaceans, 6 fish, and 3 cephalopods. According to the index of relative importance (IRI) the main prey items for M. henlei was the pelagic red crab Pleuroncodes planipes (81.4%), followed by unidentified organic material (UOM) (15.7%), the mackerel Scomber japonicus (0.94%), and fish remains (0.84%). Conducting a prey analysis considering sex of M. henlei, P. planipes was the most important prey in both females and males, followed by UOM, and S. japonicus. Sharks found in deeper areas (120-150 m) and those caught on board the exploration ship BIP XII had a similar dietary composition to those found in the shallow waters of Punta Lobos (14-40 m) where for both regions, the dominant prey items were the pelagic red crab and UOM. According to Levin's index, M. henlei may be a specialist feeder in this area. A diet overlap according to sex, area, and size was observed. The SIMPER analysis showed a low similarity in diet in relation to sex, size, and area. According to the ANOSIM test there were no significant differences. Knowing that M. henlei shows a specialist behavior could help research studies not only for species conservation but also for its habitat and the organisms that inhabit it, which are both of vital importance for this shark.

The Gulf of California is one of the most fish diverse areas of the Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. In spite of its economic value, few works have considered fish community studies for optimum management. With the aim to determine the seasonal and spatial variation of fish communities in eight locations around the San Jose Island, some ecological research was conducted from March 2001 to February 2002. For this, visual censuses were used in 48 transects of 100x5m (500m²); specific analysis such as diversity values, the relative abundance and the biological value indexes were undertaken, and a principal component analysis applied. Our results clearly showed two climatic seasons of cold and warm waters. A total number of 26 608 organisms of 112 species and 76 genera of fishes were identified. We used the relative abundance index to determine the most important species, which were: Abudefduf troschelii, Thalassoma lucasanum, Stegastes rectifraenum, Mulloidichthys dentatus, Chromis atrilobata, Lutjanus argentiventris and Scarus ghobban. February was the month with the lowest diversity with a value of 3.12bits/ind. and October was the most diverse (4.13bits/ind.). According to the biological value index (BVI) and considering the climatic seasons, the fish species with the highest score during cold months were: A. troschelii, M. dentatus, S. ghobban, S. rectifraenum and T. lucasanum. Besides, for warmer months, the same fish species were observed but in different order and abundance: A. troschelii, S. ghobban, S. rectifraenum, T. lucasanum and M. dentatus. Using the biological value index, 13 species were those which had a higher overall score. The locations by the Eastern side of the island had a greater number of species and abundance of fish. The principal component analysis (PCA) applied using the seasonal data, species richness, diversity, equity, number of species and total abundance during the warmer months also a PCA within spatial data, showed that location in Punta Colorada had a high correlation with the number of species, diversity and total abundance. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 649-667. Epub 2012 June 01.

Taxonomic composition and zoogeographical aspects of deep sea fishes (90-540m) from the Gulf of California, Mexico. The Gulf of California has a high variety of ecosystems that allow different services and the fishery resources play a prominent role in its ecology, evolution and economics. Fish coastal species have been previously reported for most coastal areas, especially those species that are subject to fishing, however, little is known on the species from deep sea zones, due to sampling cifficulties. We studied the deep sea fishes collected with trawl nets during three research surveys in the Gulf of California, Mexico in 2004-2005. We provide a systematic checklist and some notes on biogeographical aspects. For this, 74 fishing hauls were done, and a total of 9 898 fishes were captured, belonging to two classes, 15 orders, 35 families, 53 genera and 70 species. The best represented families in number of species were: Paralichthyidae (eight), Serranidae (six), and Scorpaenidae and Triglidae with five species each one. The typical families from deep waters were: Ophidiidae, Moridae, Lophiidae, Scorpaenidae, Triglidae, Paralichthydae, Pleuronectidae and Cynoglossidae. Size range varied from 13cm for the Splinose searobin (Bellator xenisma) to 234cm in the Pacific Cutlassfish (Trichiurus nitens). The biogeographical affinity showed that species with affinity to the East Tropical Pacific (ETP) dominated, followed by species from San Diego-Panamic, San Diego-Panamic-Peruvian-Chilean and Oregonian-Cortes provinces, respectively. A biogeographic overlap was found in the fauna, which reflects the Gulf of California’s geographical position, with distribution limits of species from temperate, tropical and warm-temperature transition affinities, divisions that characterize the Gulf of California. Taxonomic status of fish with a focus on composition, location, characterization and zoogeography are fundamental to any subject of biodiversity and fisheries management actions.

Scientific Problem: How has the Sudden Cardiac Death behaved on the Clinical-Pathological bases in Arroyo Naranjo communities, in Havana City during the period 2000-2004?Objective:To describe the Sudden Cardiac Death behavior in the Arroyo Naranjo communities, in Havana City during the period 2000-2004. Material and method: An epidemiologic study was carried out in a population of 210000 inhabitant in the health areas of the Arroyo Naranjo municipality (Julián Grimau, Eléctrico, Párraga, Mantilla, Capri, Los Pinos y Managua), followed for 5 years. The Cuban Group for the Sudden Cardiac Death Study (GEMSC), The Research and Reference Center for Aterosclerosis from Havana (CIRAH) and the Medical Sciences Faculty "Julio Trigo López" took part. The SUCADES I study (SUdden CArdiac DEath Study) included 5098 dead of natural causes, to which the criteria of Sudden Cardiac Death (MSC) from the World Health Organization (OMS) were applied. Results:The 9.3 % of the deaths studied happened in a sudden way. The 50.6 % of the events occurred in the male sex, in ages between 60-74 years old. Párraga was the most affected area (23.4 %).The victim's house was the place where the 35.0% of the events happened. The acute myocardial infarct (AMI) was corroborated in the 58.4 %. Conclusions: Sudden Cardiac Death was predominant in the male sex, in the group between 60-74 years old, in Párraga's health area, most frequently documented in the extra hospital media (victim's house). The acute myocardial Infarct, the cardiac rhythm troubles and the left ventricular myocardial dysfunction constituted the main definitive diagnosis.

Shrimp trawling fishery in the Gulf of California captures a wide variety of non-target species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks that are relatively unknown. The Pacific flagfin mojarra Eucinostomus currani is a frequently found species in these catches, nevertheless, nothing is currently known about its population dynamics. To contribute to the knowledge on this fish species, we studied the size structure, growth, mortality, and the recruitment pattern during the 2004-2005 seasons. A total of 6 078 mojarra were captured from 350 samples, with minimum and maximum lengths of 4.5cm and a maximum of 21.0cm. The average total length of the four major cohorts was 11.4, 13.7, 15.6 and 18.0cm, corresponding to ages 0.9, 1.2, 1.6 and 2.2 years, respectively, being the most abundant the 1.2 year-old group. The instant growth coefficient indicated moderate growth rates (K S=0.81/year, K E=0.85/year), corresponding to individuals living between 3.5 to 3.7 years. The estimated asymptotic lengths was L∞=21.8cm. In general, the population could be considered healthy: natural mortality (M=1.53/year); total mortality (Z=2.73 /year); condition factor (K=0.01072); fishery mortality (F=1.2/ year) and exploitation rate (E=0.43/year). The maximum reproduction period almost coincided with the closed season for shrimp fishing (March to August), thus we concluded that survival of the species is ensured because reproduction is indirectly protected. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (2): 887-897. Epub 2011 June 01.

What relevance has the atherosclerotic lesions occurrence had in the coronary vascular sector of the dead by sudden cardiac death in the communities of Arroyo Naranjo? To describe the behavior of the atherosclerotic lesions in the vascular coronary sector of the suddenly dead people in the communities of Arroyo Naranjo in the period 2000-2004. A descriptive study was carried out with 5098 dead of natural causes diagnosed in the University Hospital "Julio Trigo López". Based on the criteria defined by the (WHO) about SCD, 474 patients were included in the research. A Primary Data Recollection Model (PDRM) was drafted. Among the variables to be studied, Atherosclerosis was considered, an etiological factor described by medical literature as responsible in more than the 90% of the deaths that occur under unpredictable circumstances. To document this factor we went to the findings in the necropsy studies of the patients that underwent this procedure, evidencing extense, irregular and severe atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary vascular tree responsible of the unexpected death. Information gathered from the necropsies protocols given by the Pathological Anatomy Department of the University Hospital "Julio Trigo López", in Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba. Atherosclerosis was documented in the 75.5% of the cases, in the 77.9% male dead, representing more than the 70% of the cases in those older than 45 years. The presence of an Acute Myocardial Infarct and the disorders in the cardiac rhythm were the consequent diseases of atherosclerosis, which were relevant in our study with the 58.4% and 20.7% respectively.Atherosclerosis represents the principal etiological factor for the Coronary Arterial Disease (CAD) and in consequence, for Sudden Death. The variety of the lesions with the prevalence of the complicated scales (serious) in the left front descendant artery; characterize the vascular profile of the dead by Sudden Death of cardiac origin in our study.

The objective of present paper was to describe the sudden death course (SDC) in communities from Arroyo Naranjo municipality during 2000-2004. A descriptive study was conducted in 5098 deceased persons from natural death in above municipality. Present paper included 474 patients from that health area who had a cardiac sudden death (CSD). The more frequent symptoms were consciousness loss and dyspnea (72.4 % and 36.9 %). The leading risk factors were the chronic ischemic disease (59.3 %) and the left ventricular hypertrophy (52.7 %). The acute myocardial infarction (58.4 %) and the cardiac rhythm disorders (20.7 % were the definitive diagnoses more associated with the repens death, verified by necropsy.

A total of 143 organism of Apristurus nasutus (de Buen, 1959), were caught in a research survey at June 2007. The samples were obtained by means of a trawl net at 250 - 460 m depth, in the middle and north part of Gulf of California. This finding represents the first record of Apristurus nasutus in Mexican waters and therefore gives it a wider range the enlargement of his distribution. The specimens caught showed a schooling behavior, most of them in a reproductive stage.

An analysis of the demersal fish community of the eastern continental slope of the Gulf of California, México, was performed. Samples were obtained with a trawl net at 90-540m of depth by three separate research surveys. Temperature-salinity diagrams showed two main water masses, one represented by the Gulf of California water mass, down to a depth of 540m, and a deeper one corresponding to the sub-surface Pacific water mass. Depth profiles for temperature and dissolved O2 were obtained, and plots constructed from them. These profiles showed that temperature and O2 concentration decreased gradually along a smooth gradient to a minimun of 7°C and 0.1ml·l-1, respectively, at 540m deep. Seventy-one species belonging to 35 families were found. Average maximum and minimum overall diversity (H´) values were 2.2 and 0.8 bits/ind and the specific richness (R) index value were 3.6 and 0.2. Caelorinchus scaphopsis, Merluccius productus, Pleuronichthys verticals, Sebastes spinorbis, Microlephidium verecundum, Lepophidium prorates. and Lophiodes spilurus were the most dominant species, based on the relative importance index. The fish community structure suggests two different communities with two groups of species, one at 90-270m deep that shows strong associations with moderate to high diversity values and specific richness, with shared dominance by numerous species, and a second community made out of typical deep water species, with low diversity and dominance featured by a few species. The data suggests that environmental conditions play an important role in the distribution and the community structure of these species.

INTRODUCTION: it is interesting to develop our own technology to work out and to set quality specifications for different solid formulations of Passiflora incarnata L. ((passiflora), Maricaria recutita L. (chamomile) and Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) dry extracts. OBJECTIVES: to conduct phytochemical studies on and to examine the quality control parameters of Passiflora incarnata L. Maricaria recutita L. and Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) dry extracts. METHODS: for the phytochemical study based on thin layer chromatography, quick, simple and selective techniques were used, and minimal amount of equipment was employed for certain compounds. The analysis of the quality control parameters included the assays described in the Branch Standard of the Ministry of Public Health known as NRSP 309. RESULTS: flavonoids, aminoacids, amines, sugars and oligosaccharides were found in the three dry extracts under study. Antraquninone compounds and terpens were observed in the M. citrifolia extract whereas coumarins were present in the M. recutita leaf extract. CONCLUSIONS: the results proved that the three extracts are within the set limits for their use as natural active principle.

Even though thymus echography has already been successfully used in Cuba, the values of the thymus dimensions in sound children have not been published. That's why, a total of 122 children of both sexes from the health area of Arroyo Naranjo municipality with no evident sign from the first months of age until the age of 6 that were nutritionally evaluated as eutrophic were studied. The area of the longitudinal ecographic section of both thymic lobes was calculated. Patients were divided into 6 groups. It was observed an increase of the depth measure and of the gland volume with age. The average total thymic area was of 1 218 ± 207.4 mm2 and the total volume was 25 273 m3. The technique used was reproducible, easy and economic. The values of the thymic dimensions obtained that were obtained allow the application of this test in other pediatric centers of the country for the initial screening of the immune system's integrity and in the evolutive follow-up after using immunotherapy.

Thymic echographia has not been sistematically used in children with recurrent infections. That’s why a total of 283 children between 6 months and 8 years old who suffered from recurrent infections of the digestive system, the respiratory system, the skin, etc., and who were nutritionally evaluated as eutrophic, were studied. Serum IgG, IgA and IgM were quantitated. The presence or not of BCG trace was confirmed on physical examination. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the size of the thymic area. No differences were found in the dimensions of both thymic lobules. 47.53 % of the cases had a thymic area lower than 700 mm2. A strong association between the levels of serum immunoglobulins and the size of the thymic silhouette was observed. This technique may be used in the initial investigation of the evaluation of immunocellular response.